No
matter where you are your feelings and memories of Christmas are almost
surreal. The memories flood your mind as
the music begins and as the days draw close, but one of the things that rarely
hits us is the pain that is very near to those who have experienced lose in the
past year. This is the first Christmas
without that special person.
Last
Christmas was the first without my mom’s mom, grandma Bobbie. My wife and kids spent that Christmas in
Oklahoma with my family. It was a great
time, and we will miss being with them this year. But it was different as grandma Bobbie was
always there. She moved into our home
when I was young. This year would be
different.
I
think about the young father of three children whose wife died this month. They haven’t been married many years, but he
is alone this Christmas. My mind goes to
some close friends. Her mom died this
fall, and his mom died a few weeks ago.
This will be a though Christmas.
There are many, many more people in similar places, and my heart goes
out to each person in pain.
Then
there are those people in rehab centers, in nursing homes or hospitals, those
in the military or missionaries far from home.
Each is feeling alone this Christmas season, and each one is important
to God and to their families. My heart
goes out to those who are lonely.
Is
Christmas any different for them? No it
is not. Has Christmas changed? No it has not. Yet for each person and each situation
Christmas seems to have changed. It
hasn’t. But their reality us
skewed.
Now it
is our turn. We must turn to these
precious people and let them know that we have not forgotten. No, we cannot take the place of their loved
ones and family. But we can make a
difference for showing that we care.
How do
you show people that you care?
John 1:14 NLT
So the Word
became human and made his home among
us. He was full of unfailing
love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s
one and only Son.
Show
up. We make a difference by showing
up. We show up in person, on the phone,
in a card and a number of ways. We don’t
show up by staying away and keeping silent.
Jesus
showed up. He came to earth for a
purpose given to Him by the Father to be with the people and to bring them
salvation. Salvation brings freedom and
forgiveness. He shows up to make a
difference, and Jesus empowers us to do the same.
We
make a difference by showing up and being who God made us to be. Celebrate Christmas by being the joy, peace,
hope and love that Jesus gave us and continues to give others through His truth
and our sharing.
Show
up. Be who God made you to be.
Isaiah 9:6 NLT
For a child
is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
NOTE:
For
those I mentioned above, please pray: pray for Trey Craddock and his three
children and their family; pray for Sharon and Sonny Joyce and their family;
pray for those who are serving in the military, for those alone this Christmas.
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